OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 30: Cliff Pennington #2 of the Oakland Athletics gets his throw off to complete the double-play as Kyle Seager #15 of the Seattle Mariners slides into second base in the third inning at O.co Coliseum on September 30, 2012 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Photo: Thearon W. Henderson, Getty Images

OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 30: Cliff Pennington #2 of the Oakland...

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OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 30: Pat Neshek #40 of the Oakland Athletics pitches in the six inning against the Seattle Mariners at O.co Coliseum on September 30, 2012 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Photo: Thearon W. Henderson, Getty Images

OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 30: Pat Neshek #40 of the Oakland...

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OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 30: Casper Wells #33 of the Seattle Mariners is congratulated by teammates after Wells scored on an RBI single from Justin Smoak #17 (not pictured) in the third inning against the Oakland Athletics at O.co Coliseum on September 30, 2012 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Photo: Thearon W. Henderson, Getty Images

OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 30: Casper Wells #33 of the Seattle...

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OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 30: Manager Bob Melvin #6 of the Oakland Athletics takes the ball from pitcher Tommy Milone #57 taking him out of the game as catcher George Kottaras #14 looks on in the six inning against the Seattle Mariners at O.co Coliseum on September 30, 2012 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Photo: Thearon W. Henderson, Getty Images

OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 30: Manager Bob Melvin #6 of the Oakland...

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OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 30: Ryan Cook #48 of the Oakland Athletics pitches in the seventh inning against the Seattle Mariners at O.co Coliseum on September 30, 2012 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Photo: Thearon W. Henderson, Getty Images

OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 30: Ryan Cook #48 of the Oakland Athletics...

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OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 30: Kyle Seager #15 of the Seattle Mariners reacts to striking out in the seventh inning against the Oakland Athletics at O.co Coliseum on September 30, 2012 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Photo: Thearon W. Henderson, Getty Images

OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 30: Kyle Seager #15 of the Seattle...

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Oakland Athletics Coco Crisp catches Seattle Mariners Ryan Brendan fly ball to center field in the fourth inning of their MLB baseball game Sunday September 30, 2012 in Oakland California

Photo: Lance Iversen, The Chronicle

Oakland Athletics Coco Crisp catches Seattle Mariners Ryan Brendan...

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OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 30: Charlie Furbush #41 of the Seattle Mariners pitches in the seventh inning against the Oakland Athletics at O.co Coliseum on September 30, 2012 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Photo: Thearon W. Henderson, Getty Images

OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 30: Charlie Furbush #41 of the Seattle...

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Oakland Athletics catches a line drive by Seattle Mariners Miguel Olivo in the fourth inning of their MLB baseball game with the Sunday September 30, 2012 in Oakland California

Photo: Lance Iversen, The Chronicle

Oakland Athletics catches a line drive by Seattle Mariners Miguel...

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Oakland Athletics catcher George Kottaras tags out Seattle Mariners Justin Smoak in the second inning of their MLB baseball game with the Sunday September 30, 2012 in Oakland California

Oakland Athletics Yoenis Cespedes hits a solo home run against the Seattle Mariners in the 8th inning of their MLB baseball game with the Sunday September 30, 2012 in Oakland California. A's win 5-2.

Photo: Lance Iversen, The Chronicle

Oakland Athletics Yoenis Cespedes hits a solo home run against the...

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Oakland Athletics' Josh Reddick (16) and Brandon Moss (37) celebrate after Reddick hit a two-run home run off Seattle Mariners' Lucas Luetge in the eighth inning of a baseball game Sunday, Sept. 30, 2012, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

Photo: Ben Margot, Associated Press

Oakland Athletics' Josh Reddick (16) and Brandon Moss (37)...

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Oakland Athletics Josh Reddick second from left, celebrates his two run home run against the Seattle Mariners in the 8th inning of their MLB baseball game with the Sunday September 30, 2012 in Oakland California. A's win 5-2

Photo: Lance Iversen, The Chronicle

Oakland Athletics Josh Reddick second from left, celebrates his two...

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Oakland Athletics Yoenis Cespedes (52) celebrates his go ahead solo home run with Josh Reddick against the Seattle Mariners in the 8th inning of their MLB baseball game with the Sunday September 30, 2012 in Oakland California. A's win 5-2.

Seattle Mariners' Shawn Kelley (23) turns his back as Oakland Athletics' Yoenis Cespedes runs the bases after hitting a home run off Kelley in the eighth inning of a baseball game Sunday, Sept. 30, 2012, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

Photo: Ben Margot, Associated Press

Seattle Mariners' Shawn Kelley (23) turns his back as Oakland...

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Yoenis Céspedes (center) celebrates his go-ahead home run in the eighth inning as the A's neared a wild card berth by completing the sweep of Seattle.

Photo: Lance Iversen, The Chronicle

Yoenis Céspedes (center) celebrates his go-ahead home run in the...

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Oakland Athletics Josh Reddick celebrates his two run home run in the 8th inning with Brandon Moss during their MLB baseball game with the Seattle Mariners Sunday September 30, 2012 in Oakland California. A's win 5-2

Photo: Lance Iversen, The Chronicle

Oakland Athletics Josh Reddick celebrates his two run home run in...

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Seattle Mariners Casper Wells is greeted at the dugout after scoring the tying run off a base hit by Justin Smoak in the third inning of their MLB baseball game with the Oakland Athletics Sunday September 30, 2012 in Oakland California

Photo: Lance Iversen, The Chronicle

Seattle Mariners Casper Wells is greeted at the dugout after...

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Oakland Athletics Yoenis Cespedes watches his go ahead solo home run go over the left field wall against the Seattle Mariners in the 8th inning Sunday September 30, 2012 in Oakland California

Photo: Lance Iversen, The Chronicle

Oakland Athletics Yoenis Cespedes watches his go ahead solo home...

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Oakland Athletics Yoenis Cespedes slides safely into home under the tag by Seattle Mariners catcher Jesus Montero in the first inning of their MLB baseball game with the Sunday September 30, 2012 in Oakland California

Photo: Lance Iversen, The Chronicle

Oakland Athletics Yoenis Cespedes slides safely into home under the...

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Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Tommy Milone throws to the Seattle Mariners in the first inning of their MLB baseball game with the Sunday September 30, 2012 in Oakland California

Photo: Lance Iversen, The Chronicle

Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Tommy Milone throws to the...

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Oakland Athletics Yoenis Cespedes is congratulated by his teammates after scoring against the Seattle Mariners in the first inning of their MLB baseball game with the Sunday September 30, 2012 in Oakland California

Photo: Lance Iversen, The Chronicle

Oakland Athletics Yoenis Cespedes is congratulated by his teammates...

In some ways, it doesn't matter if the A's win their division or claim the wild card. Or open at home or on the road. Or face the Orioles or the Yankees or some other team.

The bottom line is this: The A's will have Yoenis Céspedes, and their opponent will not, and that's a comforting thought as they near clinching a playoff spot for the first time in six years, which could happen as soon as Monday night.

"You look at Trout's numbers, they're incredible," A's manager Bob Melvin said of Angels rookie and MVP candidate Mike Trout. "But I don't know of anybody who has made a bigger impact on a team than Yoenis has made for us."

In Sunday's 5-2 victory over the Mariners, which lowered Oakland's magic number to clinch a playoff berth to two - it fell to one Sunday night with the Angels' loss to Texas - Céspedes showed off his speed early and power late.

He tripled on a liner to right that would be a double for most players, and he scored on a shallow fly to center that would prompt most players to stay at third. In the eighth, he broke a 2-2 tie with his 23rd homer, and the A's completed a three-game sweep that sets up an intriguing season-ending series.

"I try to use all the weapons I have in a baseball game," Céspedes said, "not just hitting."

The A's are two games behind the first-place Rangers, their opponent for the final three games. An Oakland sweep would mean a division title. At this point, why not shoot for the moon? That's the mind-set in the clubhouse.

"We've got a chance to win our division. We've got our eyes set on that," said closer Grant Balfour, who secured his 22nd save with a perfect ninth inning. "The whole year, that's what we tried to do. It was just a matter of whether it was feasible at this time. If it is, obviously we want to win. There's no doubt about it."

Because the magic number is one, the A's could clinch a wild-card spot Monday if they beat the Rangers or the Angels and Rays both lose. The ample scenarios beyond that, including which team the A's would meet to open the playoffs, can make a manager's head spin.

"We're going to try to win tomorrow. I think we're best suited to just do that and not worry about all the different variables," Melvin said. "We're in the dugout today, and all of a sudden, the Angels' score goes up. It's so emotional this time of year that your thoughts can go back and forth based on one scoreboard change."

Céspedes drove in the first run on his triple and chose on his own to run home on Brandon Moss' shallow fly. It would have been a close play if center fielder Franklin Gutierrez's throw hadn't bounced off the mound.

"I was going to go regardless," Céspedes said. "I was going for home plate even if they kill me there."

Tommy Milone was pulled in the fifth, and five relievers combined for 4 1/3 scoreless innings. Ryan Cook yielded hits to the first two batters in the seventh, but he struck out the next three.

Third baseman Josh Donaldson made a diving stop of Justin Smoak's grounder to end a two-out, two-on threat in the fifth. Josh Reddick hit an insurance two-run homer in the eighth and collected his 15th assist by gunning down Smoak at the plate.